Scratch Week

Last week we had demonstrations each afternoon about cooking from scratch. 

Monday we learned how to make tortillas, waffles and crepes.
Tuesday we learned how to make English muffins, bread, cinnamon rolls and Hungarian burgers.
Wednesday was just an overview on this current week where we have been required to cook from scratch.
Thursday we learned how to make chicken pot pie, granola, biscuits and salad dressing.
Friday we learned how to make pie crust and several different types of pies, both savory and sweet.

And of course we got to eat the many things we learned how to make. Many of these things, I make on a regular basis, but some of it was new to me. So this week we are required to cook from scratch. This means we are not allowed to use anything prepackaged, frozen (except meat) or any milk (you must use powdered). We also are not allowed to use any of our appliances which includes things like coffee makers, microwaves, hand mixers, blenders, etc. Again many of these items we already don't use, so it has not been too much of a problem.

A couple of things I have had to make include English muffins and tortillas. I decided to try whole wheat English muffins and they did not really turn out to well. My tortillas were great though and fun to make. Rylan even helped me. He has always been interested in helping me cook and that interest has only peaked over time. Here are a few pictures of us making tortillas:

So they weren't the most round tortillas...

You can see that my "baby bump" is collecting flour!

Spring break in Wisconsin

We had a wonderful week in Wisconsin. We were able to visit some of our friends in Waukesha for a few days, fellowship with our Sunday group from Milwaukee and then we were able to spend a few days in the Wisconsin Dells. We stayed at a hotel there that had an indoor water park and theme park. Rylan loved both places. Carsten had fun, but not to the extent that Rylan did. Here are some photos from the trip:

 

Rylan's Train Party

On Wednesday we had Rylan's birthday party. We invited six of his friends from school and our Sunday group. The party was great! The kids seemed to all have a really good time. I tried to keep it simple yet fun. Here are some pictures that tell the story a little better:

First the kids ate spaghetti for lunch

Then Rylan blew out the 3 candles on his cupcake train

Another picture of the cupcake train

Next they played pick up the coal (tin foil)- they loved it!

I tied strings to trains and hid them- they followed the string to find their train

Next they decorated train sugar cookies. They each had a plastic knife and got to frost and put sprinkles on two cookies. They took these home with them for later. They thought it was really cool to be able to do this on their own. Forgot to take pictures :(

Then of course time for presents!

The kids would give him their present and tell him what it was! So funny.

We ended the party by letting the kids play with Rylan's train set and watch a Thomas the Train video. Overall I thought the party went great! I was exhausted by the end though- two hours with 7 kids ages 3-4 is pretty tiring!

A birthday message from Carsten

Here is the video that Carsten made for Nana's birthday. Sorry it is so late in coming. There is more to come soon on the blog...pictures from our week in Wisconsin and tomorrow is Rylan's birthday party so I will be posting those pictures as well.

Happy Birthday Nana!

Party planning

I have been busy preparing the plans for Rylan's birthday party. It is still a few weeks away, but we leave for Wisconsin tomorrow and don't come back for a week. I knew I had to get the planning done now! Rylan is so excited to have his Thomas the Train birthday party. Here is what the invitation looks like as well as the itinerary for the party!

This looks better in person with a Thomas logo, etc.

I will post pictures of the party once it happens!

New jammies

The boys both got new pajamas at Christmas time that are just now fitting for the spring/summer which is great. Rylan was especially excited about this new pair of pajamas and wants to wear them every night! I don't think Carsten cares, but it is nice to see him in pajamas that fit right.

Then yesterday Carsten was up from his nap before Rylan and was playing with his turtle toy. Jeff was playing with him and I got this cute photo of them together.

And yes Carsten always seems to be pant-less in the pictures I take. I think it is because we often take them off for his nap to make him more comfortable and then I always take pictures at that time of the day. I need to start putting the pants back on after the nap!